Contemporary artist Jeff Koons comes to the Gold Coast as part of BLEACH*

One of the biggest living artists in history is coming to Australia, and his one and only port-of-call is the ever-so-sophisticated Glitter Strip. FIND OUT WHY

Likened to Frank Sinatra and Whitney Houston attending the 1998 opening of Sanctuary Cove – American artist Jeff Koons is coming to the Gold Coast.

Known as this generation’s Picasso and one of the biggest contemporary artists in history, Jeff Koons is coming to HOTA in partnership with BLEACH* festival and New York’s National Gallery for a special In Conversation event on July 31.

Jeff Koons for BLEACH*. Picture: Supplied

BLEACH* artistic director Michael Zavros said never has the Gold Coast hosted a visual artist of this magnitude before.

“When I describe Jeff Koons I tend to say in the canon of 20th century art Picasso led the beginning, Warhol in the middle, Koons at the end,” Mr Zavros said.

“I liken it to Whitney and Sinatra coming for the opening of Sanctuary Cove.”

Rising to prominence in the 80s, Koons is best known for his bold, larger-than-life sculptures which have broken records at auctions, fetching up to $131 million.

Jeff Koons, Balloon Dog, The Broad. Picture:Jeremy Thompson/Flickr

The milestone event will explore the depths of creativity in an evening with one of the most polarising contemporary artists of all time.

“This is a dream wish,” Mr Zavros said.

“We got a tentative yes from the studio in New York at the end of last year, and it’s taken nearly six months to get a more definitive yes – and that was only on Saturday.”

The hour and a half event is expected to attract visitors from interstate and around the world.

BLEACH* runs from July 31 to August 10. Full program is available via the HOTA website.

Originally published as Contemporary artist Jeff Koons comes to the Gold Coast as part of BLEACH*